Folding table



APF 29, 1941.

H- D. JoHNsoN April 29, 1941. H. D. oHNsoN 2,240,301

FOLDING TABLE Filed March 11, 1959 A"s sheets-sheet 2 I ApriljZQ, 1941.H. nuo'HNsoN FOLDING TABLE Filed March 1'7, 1959 .3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ffy]$7/ ifa/285957 Patented Apr. 29, 1941 UNITED- STATES rarer rele-E2,240,301 FOLDING TABLE Harry D. Johnsen, English, Imi.

Application March 17, 1939, Serial No.'262,476

8 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in tables, and has for itsparticular purpose the provision of a folding legged card table.

Another purpose is the provision of means for folding the legs andassociated cross elements of a table. v

Another purpose is the provision of a folding table which shall havelthe structural strength and general appearance of a permanentlyassembled table.

Another purpose is the provision of improved hinge means.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of thespecification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation with parts in Vsection;

Figure 2 is a section on ure1;

Figure 3 is a detail;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line ure 4; f f

Figure 6 is a plan View, from below, of the table when folded; and

Figure 7 is a section on the line I-l of Figure 6.

Like Vparts are indicated by like symbols the nner-2 of Fig- 5-5 ofFigvthroughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates a table top which isshown as having. an inset central portion 2, of diierent material thanthe rest of the top. It will be understood that this inset is not anecessary part or limif tation.

I illustrate one pair of legs 3, 3 connected by a transverse structuralelement or cross support 4. A second pair of legs 5, 5 is connected by asimilar structural element 6. These two pairs of legs are hinged atopposite sides of the table top I by the hinged structure belowdescribed.`

I may employ, for example, a linlk rod 8 mounted in any suitablebearings 9 in the table element I0, which forms part of or is associatedwith the vtable top I. YLinked at each end of the rod 8 is a link I'I,each such link being rotatable about a pivot I2. Similarly connected asat Iza to the outer ends of the two'links II is a second rod I3, held bybearing'members I4 to any suitable portion of the transverse connectingmember 4 or 6. It will be understood that the rod 8 is -rotatable inrelation to the table top and that the rod I3 is rotatable in relationto the structural member 4 or 6, and that, by reason of the employmentof ,the links Il, a relative longitudinal movement of the rods 8 and I3is possible, the links always holding them and their associated parts inparallelism.

Thisis important, in practice, since it is desirable to have the legslaterally spaced apart, when they are folded in the position of Figure6, against the bottom of the table top.v But when they are unfolded, andin vertical and table supporting position, it is important that they beuniformly spaced in relation to the corners of the table. I thereforeprovide means effective, in response to rotation of each pair of legsinto and out of supporting position, to

impart whatever lateral or transverse movement is necessary. I employ,for example, a link I5 pivoted at one end, as at IS, to the bottom of`the tabletop, and pivoted at the other end, as at Il, to a member I8which in turn is linked, -as at I9, to a bracket 2B secured to themember 4 or 6. Therefore, when the pair of legs is movedfrom the foldedinto the unfolded position, the effect of this rotation, as guided bythe link I5, will bev to impart a transverse movementiof the pair oflegs and the connecting member 6. .When the unfolding movement iscompleted, the parts are in the position in which they are shown inFigure 5, with each leg squarely centered at the.' appropriate positionin relation to the adjacent corner. n

In order to hold the legs firmly extended, and in order to complete thestructure of the table,

-.I hinge, between each pair of legs,` along each v Jof two oppositesides of the table, the hinged side members 20, 2l. These members may behinged to the table top by the simple hinges 22. They are provided ateach end with a plate 23 having notches 24 and slots 25. Penetratingthese notches and slots are pins 26 on the adjacent portion of the legstructure. The projecting ends of the pins are preferably tapered tofacilitatealinement with the slots 25 and notches Whenv the legs havebeen unfolded into supporting position, and when the side members 2B,

.but which none the less may very readily be dismounted and folded.

, A When folded, both sets of legs fold flatly against Vthe bottom ofthe table top, as shown in Figure 6 and in dotted lines in Figure 2, andthe members 20, 2l swing inwardly against the bottom' of the table top.The parts are so disposed that the link members including the rods 8 andI3 lie close to the bottom of the table top, and the result is a compacttable, which occupies a minimum space.

It will be realized that, whereas I have described and illustrated apractical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made inthe size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing fromthe spirit of my invention, provided said changes are within the scopeof the claims. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be takenas in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than aslimiting me to the precise showing of the description and drawings.

I claim:

1. In a folding table, a table top, a plurality of pairs of legs movablysecured to said table top at opposite edges thereof, each such pairbeing connected by an apron adapted, when the legs are extended, to liein a plane generally perpendicular to 'the plane of the table top,additional aprons hinged to the table top and located between each saidpair of legs, said aprons being adapted, when in extended position, tobridge the gap between a leg at each end of each additional apron, andhinge connections between the pairs of legs and the table top, each suchhinge connection being pivoted to the table top and to the apronconnecting a pair of legs, and further including spacing links adaptedto permit endwise movement of each such apron, with its associated legs,in relation to the table top.

2. In a folding table, a table top, a plurality of pairs of legs movablysecured to said table top at opposite edges thereof, each such pairbeing connected by an apron adapted, when the legs are extended, to liein a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the table top,additional aprons hinged to the table top and located between each saidpair of legs, said aprons being adapted, whenY in extended position, tobridge the gap between a leg at each end of each additional apron, hingeconnections between the pairs of legs and the table top, each such hingeconnection including a hinge rod pivotally secured to the apronconnecting a pair of legs, an additional hinge rod pivoted to the tabletop, spacing links connecting and pivoted to the ends of said hingerods, and means responsive to the rotation of each pair of legs into andout of supporting position in relation to the table top to impart anendwise movement of such pair of legs and its connecting apron.

3. In a folding table, a table top, a leg assembly including a pair oflegs and a connection between them independent of the table top, a hingemember separately pivoted on table top and leg assembly along widelyspaced parallel axes, adapted to permit relativeV lateral and angulardisplacement of leg assembly and table top, the plane defined by the twopivot axes when the legs are in the open position being inclined to the'bable top, means interposed between the table top and leg assemblyresponsive to relative angular movement thereof, for compelling relativelongitudinal displacement of table top and leg assembly along a lineparallel with the pivot axes.

4. In a folding table, a table top, a leg assembly including a pair oflegs and a connection between them independent of the table top, a hingemember separately pivoted on table top and leg assembly along widelyspaced parallel axes, adapted to permit relative lateral and angulardisplacement of leg assembly and table top, the plane dened by the twopivot axes when the legs are in the open position being inclined to thetable top, means interposed between the table top and leg assemblyresponsive to relative angular movement thereof, for compelling relativelongitudinal displacement of table top and leg assembly along a lineparallel with the pivot axes, said means including a link pivoted at oneend on the table top and at the other end on the leg assembly.

5. In a folding table, a table top, a leg assem- .bly including a pairof legs and a connection between them independent of the table top, ahinge member separately pivoted on table top and leg assembly alongwidely spaced parallel axes adapted to permit relative lateral angulardisplacement of leg assembly and table top, the plane defined by the twopivot axes when the legs are in the open position being inclined to thetable top, means interposed between the leg assembly and table top forforcing that portion of the leg assembly which engages the table top tomove in a plane generally parallel with the table top when relativeangular movement of table top and leg assembly takes place, said meansincluding a `link pivoted on an axis perpendicular to the plane of thetable top, a pivoted connection between the other end of the link andthe leg assembly, the axis of which is generally parallel with the hingeaxes and a pivot joint in the link, the axis of which is generallyparallel with the pivot axis of link and table.

6. In a folding table, a table top,.a leg assembly including a pair oflegs and a connection between them independent of the table top, a hingemember separately pivoted on table top` and leg assembly along widelyspaced parallel axes, adapted to permit relative lateral and angulardisplacement of leg assembly and table top, the plane dened by the twopivot axes when the legs are in the open position being inclined to thetable top, means interposed between the table top and leg assemblyresponsive to relative angular movement thereof, for compellingrelative, longitudinal displacement of table top and leg assembly alonga line parallel with the pivot axes, and for forcing that portion of theleg assembly which engages the table top to move in a plane generallyparallel with the table top when relative angular movement of table topand leg assem'bly takes place.

'7. In a folding table, a table top, a leg assembly including a pair oflegs and a connection between them independent of the table top, a hingemember separately pivoted on table top and leg assembly along widelyspaced parallel axes, adapted to permit relative lateral and angulardisplacement of leg assembly land table top, the plane defined by thetwo pivot axes when .the

y legs are in the open position being inclined to the table top, meansinterposed between the table top and leg assembly responsive to relativeangular movement thereof, for compelling relative, longitudinaldisplacement of table top and leg assembly along a line parallel withthe pivot axes, and for forcing 'that portion of the leg assembly whichengages the table top to move in a plane generally parallel with thetable top when relative angular movement of table top and leg assemblytakes place, said means including a link pivoted at one end on thetabletop and at the other end Von the legassembly.

8. n a folding table, a table top, a leg assembly including a pair oflegs and a connection between them independent of the table top, a hingemember separately pivoted on table top and. leg assembly along Widelyspaced parallel axes, adapted to permit relative lateral and angulardisplacement of leg assembly and. table top, the plane defined by thetwo pivot axes when the legs are in the open position being inclined tothe table top, means interposed between the table top and leg assemblyresponsive to relative angular movement thereof, for compelling rela,-tive, longitudinal displacement of table top and leg assembly along aline parallel with the pivot axes, and for forcing that portion of theleg assembly which engages the table top to move in a plane generallyparallel with the table top when relative angular movement of table topand leg assembly takes place, said means including a link pivoted on anaxis perpendicular to the plane of the table top, a pivoted connectionbetween the other end of the link and. the leg assembly, the axis ofwhich is generally parallel With the hinge axes and a pivot joint in thelink, the axis of which is generally parallel to the pivot axis of linkand table.

HARRY D. JOHNSON.

